Watch: Khalil Tate, DeMarco Murray talk motivation, leaders and learning from mistakes

Ex-NFL RB DeMarco Murray's close relationship with Kevin Sumlin brought him to Tucson

The Arizona Wildcats are close to finishing up their second week of spring practice. The UA will practice two additional weeks leading up to the Spring Game on Saturday, April 13.

After the UA's private scrimmage at Arizona Stadium on Thursday evening, first-year running backs coach DeMarco Murray and senior quarterback Khalil Tate held post-practice media sessions. 

Murray is entering his first year as a coach after spending a season in the broadcast booth with Fox, one year after retiring from the NFL. Murray played seven seasons in the NFL and led the league in rushing in 2014 with the Dallas Cowboys. He won NFL Offensive Player of the Year honors that same season. 

Murray was recruited by Kevin Sumlin out of Bishop Gorman High School in Las Vegas in 2006, when Sumlin was an assistant at Oklahoma. The relationship was a key component in bringing Murray to the UA to replace Clarence McKinney as the running backs coach. 

Tate is entering his final season at Arizona and anticipates returning to his highlight playmaking abilities with full health. Tate injured his ankle in the second week of the season against Houston a year ago, and finished the season with 2,530 passing yards and 26 touchdowns. He rushed for 224 yards, 1,187 less than his explosive 2017 campaign. 

Tate looks to be Arizona's starting quarterback again this season and Murray is anticipating a productive season out of his running back group. Check out what they had to say after practice. 

Kevin Sumlin recruiting DeMarco Murray all over gain

Arizona running backs coach DeMarco Murray says Kevin Sumlin recruited him to Oklahoma and the two have known each other since he was 17. “He didn’t have to do too much recruiting because this was a place where I wanted to be.” pic.twitter.com/ZpJNoKV4YY

— Justin Spears (@JustinESports) March 29, 2019

Last season is motivation for Arizona

Khalil Tate says Arizona is going to take the 5-7 2018 season and “use it as a stepping stone” for 2019. pic.twitter.com/f3xFzHDquF

— The Wildcaster (@TheWildcaster) March 29, 2019

Murray's relationship with Sumlin

DeMarco Murray says coaching will benefit him and working with Kevin Sumlin was a no-brainer. “If anyone else would’ve called, I wouldn’t of taken the job. Knowing Coach Sumlin, knowing what he’s about and the kind of man that he is, that was one of the main reasons.” pic.twitter.com/AaLHLRxU7a

— The Wildcaster (@TheWildcaster) March 29, 2019

Noel Mazzone and Khalil Tate are on the same page

Khalil Tate says his relationship with offensive coordinator Noel Mazzone has always been on the same page. “It’s gonna take some time. It doesn’t happen overnight.” pic.twitter.com/cyGvvAF6pS

— The Wildcaster (@TheWildcaster) March 29, 2019

Tate's mindset this spring

Arizona QB Khalil Tate says his mindset heading into the 2019 season is “to just get better every day.” pic.twitter.com/LNFeqmDAb1

— The Wildcaster (@TheWildcaster) March 29, 2019

Murray on coaching J.J. Taylor

DeMarco Murray on working with Arizona running back J.J. Taylor: pic.twitter.com/NHN2EporBE

— The Wildcaster (@TheWildcaster) March 29, 2019

Arizona is in need of a leader for 2019

Khalil Tate says the biggest emphasis for Arizona is finding a leader during spring ball. pic.twitter.com/bJoA7er8ek

— The Wildcaster (@TheWildcaster) March 29, 2019

Murray compares Khalil Tate to former Heisman winner Marcus Mariota

DeMarco Murray says Khalil Tate is “special” and compares him to former Oregon QB Marcus Mariota. pic.twitter.com/pH6MQedyFV

— The Wildcaster (@TheWildcaster) March 29, 2019

Getting through the difficult times in games

Khalil Tate says his biggest focus during the spring practice period is working on technique and powering through fatigue. pic.twitter.com/dsz2SJwVsO

— The Wildcaster (@TheWildcaster) March 29, 2019

Murray's coaching style

DeMarco Murray says his coaching style is “laid-back.” pic.twitter.com/zfhh1UHt3N

— The Wildcaster (@TheWildcaster) March 29, 2019

Being healthy once again

Khalil Tate on being 100 percent healthy this spring: pic.twitter.com/cP28DYDNyn

— The Wildcaster (@TheWildcaster) March 29, 2019

Forgetting the downfall of last season

Khalil Tate says sitting out after his ankle injury from the Week 2 loss to Houston would’ve helped, “but I’d like to leave the past in the past.” pic.twitter.com/94BQjamE35

— The Wildcaster (@TheWildcaster) March 29, 2019

Losing Shawn Poindexter, Shun Brown and Tony Ellison

Khalil Tate on losing three starting wide receivers: pic.twitter.com/g0ceccHnUo

— The Wildcaster (@TheWildcaster) March 29, 2019

Newcomers are stepping up at wide receiver for UA

Khalil Tate has been impressed with the entire wide receiver group. “Everybody’s doing a great job.” pic.twitter.com/8eoq9uEUln

— The Wildcaster (@TheWildcaster) March 29, 2019

Missing the competitive drive

DeMarco Murray said he missed the competitive spirit from being on a team after retiring from the NFL. Murray was a college football analyst on Fox in 2018. pic.twitter.com/7TozAQ4jRX

— The Wildcaster (@TheWildcaster) March 29, 2019

Message to recruits

DeMarco Murray’s message to recruits: pic.twitter.com/UbviLCZpZb

— The Wildcaster (@TheWildcaster) March 29, 2019

Adjusting to the times

DeMarco Murray says social media has been the biggest difference from when Kevin Sumlin was recruiting him out of high school. “You gotta be able to move on with the times and you gotta be able to adapt.” pic.twitter.com/n4gZEQxPQB

— The Wildcaster (@TheWildcaster) March 29, 2019

Murray is avoiding the 'dad bod'

Can DeMarco Murray beat every Arizona running back on roster in a foot race? Murray: “I’m confident.” Murray also assessed the RB corps: pic.twitter.com/M2TxzKwcXd

— The Wildcaster (@TheWildcaster) March 29, 2019

Handling outside noise

Khalil Tate on dealing with outside noise: “I just play football and go to school.”Tate also discusses the importance of his final season at Arizona. pic.twitter.com/JKa0R1YIpx

— The Wildcaster (@TheWildcaster) March 29, 2019

Learning from 2018 season

Khalil Tate says Arizona is going to take the 5-7 2018 season and “use it as a stepping stone” for 2019. pic.twitter.com/f3xFzHDquF

— The Wildcaster (@TheWildcaster) March 29, 2019